Lee County working to bring in more out-of-country visitors

LEE COUNTY: Lee County tourism leaders announced a new partnership – one that's not aimed at attracting visitors who live in Florida, or even the United States. They explained what makes the foreign market so lucrative.

Robert Reid and Ed Monroy are Lee County entrepreneurs. And while their businesses aren't much alike - their clientele is. And that's what's keeping them above water.

"At least 40-percent are from Europe. The rest are from Venezuela, Peru, Colombia," said Monroy, of the Fountain Motel.

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau announced Thursday that they'll soon join the ranks of those who target visitors from outside the U.S.

"The international visitors -they come, stay longer and spend more when they're here. Building on that is an opportunity we couldn't miss," explained Tamara Pigott of the Lee County VCB.

The Lee VCB has partnered with Lonely Planet - one of the world's largest travel publishers.

Pigott says by year's end, Lee County will be marketed on iPhones, store shelves and major travel websites across the globe.

Lonely Planet will design and distribute a destination guidebook in English and German to several continents.

Pigott says right now, out-of-country visitors make up 22 percent of people vacationing to Lee County.

Lonely Planet wants that number to reach 30-percent by the end of next year.

The partnership will cost Lee County $700,000 in bed taxes.

"We have limited dollars and resources. We have to ensure every dollar pays off three times. I'm confident this will pay off," Pigott said.

Pigott says she hopes the new partnership will be a winning combo to help rake in a third year of year-over increases.

Now that we're getting into the second half of August, it's the the time of year when we really start to monitor the far eastern Atlantic for budding tropical waves that could potentially develop into tropical storms or hurricanes.